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Disc golf gaining interest

The Battlefords Disc Golf club meets every Wednesday at 7:30 for league gamesFacebook/Battlefords Community Disc Golf Club

While it’s quickly gaining interest, it may not be common knowledge that the Battlefords is home to its very own disc golf league.

Disc golf is much like traditional golf; however, as the name suggests, players throw discs resembling Frisbees in an attempt to sink it into a type of bucket that acts as the hole.

“The club was formed in 2015 by just a few of us local players who were around the course, and we figured we should start running a league and tournaments,” Evan Zimmer, a representative for the Battlefords disc golf league, said. “Since then, we are successfully in our third year of league, and we’ve also run several tournaments since 2015.

“We want the sport to grow, because we want other people to enjoy it as much as we do."

The Battlefords has two disc golf courses. One is in Centennial Park, and another is at Fort Battleford. Zimmer said they have hosted tournaments at both, which have seen upward of 60 people registered to compete in.

However, each tournament has multiple divisions so that anyone, regardless of age or skill level, can compete and have fun.

Fort Battlefords’ course is one of the most unique courses in Canada.

“It’s the only one in Canada, possibly the world, the only disc golf course on a national historic site,” Zimmer said.

Zimmer started playing disc golf regularly in 2013, and since then averages five rounds a week. Years ago, he and his group would rarely ever see anyone else out at the courses. Today, it isn’t uncommon for him to see over five groups on the courses on regular days.

“It’s great that we have something like this out in the park, and it’s for all ages and skill levels really,” Zimmer said. “[Centennial] is a really beautiful park, it’s really well maintained by the city, we love it, and it’s a lot of fun to come down here and take a walk around the park for those of us trying to stay active.”

The accessibility of disc golf in comparison to traditional golf is perhaps one of the most attractive features of the sport. Each course is free to play on, and a set of official disc golf discs only cost around $15.

The league will be hosting a tournament at Fort Battleford on July 1 for Canada 150, which they’ve been organizing for six months. The top division is open and masters is $50 to register, ladies advanced and beginners divisions are $30, and juniors division is $20. Every person who registers will receive a custom print Canada 150 disc and a free catered lunch.

A second “glow night” tournament will also be hosted later on at 11:00 p.m. with lights on the discs, holes and tee boxes. This tournament is free of charge and everyone is welcome to play.

“[The tournaments] have brought in people from Regina, Lloydminster, Rocky Mountain House, Watrous, Yorkton, you name it…guys from Manitoba even one year.” Zimmer said. “This reputation has gotten around to the point that we’re selected this year to be hosting the provincial championships on August 19-20 at Centennial Park.”

The Battlefords disc golf league encourages anyone who is interested to come out to a league night and try the sport out. The league can provide discs if needed, and no commitment is necessary.

“It’s a casual thing,” Zimmer said. “You come out and have fun…if you can’t make the next week, then no big deal.”

League nights are at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday, and each have slightly different rules such as singles and doubles. For doubles, the league tries to pair up more experienced players with less experienced players to keep games balanced, and so less experienced players can learn some techniques to improve their game.

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